First Time on the Camino we would love some advice!

I don't recall off hand if trains to Leon leave from Chamartin or Puerta de Atocha so I have included information for both.

The Parador Leon is a five star hotel run by Spain. Its reasonably priced for what you get.
http://www.parador.es/en/paradores/parador-de-leon

Madrid Airport

The airport in Madrid is called Barajas (MAD). There are 4 terminals. T1, T2, and T3 are located in one building. T4 and T4S are connected by an Automatic People Mover train. There is a shuttle service that connects all terminals.

Madrid Airport (MAD)
http://www.aena-aeropuertos.es/csee/Satellite/Aeropuerto-Madrid-Barajas/en/

Getting around Madrid

Connections to Madrid include subway (Metro), light rail transit (Cercanias), and EMT bus.

Madrid Metro has stations at T1-T2-T3 and at T4. The trains run every 6 - 12 minutes.

Madrid Cercanias has a station at T4. The trains run every 30 minutes.

EMT Madrid operates a bright yellow express bus from the airport T1-T2-T3 and airport T4 to Puerta de Atocha Renfe station.

EMT Madrid operates bus route #200 from the airport T1-T2-T3 and airport T4 to Intercambiador de Avenida de America.

Madrid Metro
http://www.metromadrid.es/en/index.html

Madrid Metro Map
http://www.metromadrid.es/export/sites/metro/comun/documentos/planos/Planomayo2013.pdf

Madrid Cercanias (operated by Renfe)
http://www.renfe.com/viajeros/cercanias/madrid/index.html

EMT Madrid bus services to Airport
http://www.emtmadrid.es/Aeropuerto

Madrid Train stations

Puerta de Atocha is reached by Metro. Take line 8 from airport T1-T2-T3 or T4 to Nuevos Ministerios; line 10 to Tribunal; and, line 1 to Renfe Atocha.

Alternatively take the Cercanias train from T4.

Or take EMT Madrid Aeropuerto Express #203. The bus picks up at both terminal building and terminates at Puerta de Atocha. 24/7 service.

Puerta de Atocha Renfe Station Madrid
http://www.adif.es/es_ES/infraestructuras/estaciones/60000/informacion_000070.shtml

Chamartin is reached by Metro. Take line 8 from airport T1-T2-T3 or T4 to Nuevos Ministerios; and, line 10 to Chamartin.

Alternatively take the Cercanias train from T4.

Chamartin Renfe Station Madrid
http://www.adif.es/es_ES/infraestructuras/estaciones/17000/informacion_000295.shtml

Hi @topper,

Trains from Madrid to Leon depart from Chamartin.

If you fly into T1, just walk outside the terminal and catch a free shuttle bus to T4. From there, you can take a take a local train to Chamartin. It's all very simple - just go downstairs in T4 and follow the signs. If you have pre-booked your train ticket to Leon, show this ticket at the desk and your ride to Chamartin will be free. It's an 11 minute journey to Chamartin and the trains depart every 30 mins.

You can book your ticket from Madrid to Leon at www.renfe.es. September dates won't appear on the website until July or August. If you want to check the likely departure times, just use an April or May date as a guide (they don't change much). The fast trains take about 2hours and 15 minutes, but others take 3-4 hours.

Here's a useful thread about hotels in Leon: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/hotel-recomendations-in-leon.39061/#post-389228

Buen Camino to you both!